National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1887-06-23
European Possibilities.

1t has been stated that Pope Leo XIII
has proposed to King Humbert the retro
cession to the pope Of the papal states as
they existed prior to the revolution which
unified Italy under Victor Emanuel, and
that Monsignor Gamberti, the papal nunrlo
at Vienna, is urging upon the emperors of
Austria and Germany their assistance In
securing this retrocession.
In other words, that King Humbert has
been asked to divide his kingdom into two
parts by putting foreign potentate In
possession Of territory that extends in a
broad belt from the Mediterranean to the
A1riatic, and includes within its limits the
capital city of Italy-historic Rome.
To any one who is acquainted or has the
slightest knowledge of the ability and the
wisdom of Pope Leo, the statement that
such proposition has been made is absurd.
He has never made and never intended to
make any such demand upon King Hum
bert. Mgr. Gsmberti, one Of the brightest
and ablest diplomates OF modern times,
may have stated that such a demand or re.
quest would be made; but the wise Leo
will never make 1t, aud II any such state
mtuJ mas UbGu uduc IL WAS luJSuuel 10
cover other and greater designs.
The ableSt man that Europe has pro
duced in centuries, Napoleon Bonaparte.
declared that Europe would in time become
French or Cossack.
There might have been time when it
could become French, as 1t was when under
Charlemagne, but that time has passed, and
the other alternative of becoming Cossack
is looming up before the eyes of the Euro
pean rulers.
Leo XIII is, perhaps, the wlsest of the
popes since the great Gregory, and the
wisest of the rulers of Europe. We use
the word ruler because while he has no tenn
poral power, he rules the c0nsclences and
religious beliefs of one-half the inhabit.
ants Of Europe.
He agrees probably with Napoleon that
Europe is in danger OF becoming Cossack.
The great Russian empire, with its i'm
mense resources, is only waiting the advent
OF some mind OF commanding ability
some man OF ambition, such as possessed
Napoleon, freed from German influence,
which has controlled the czars, to sweep
over Europe as the progenitors Of its Tar
tar inhabitants swept 1t centuries ago,
leaving devastation in their track.
Leo is great enough to comprehend this
fact and II he is talking about regainlng
temporal sovereignty 1t is only to conceal
what he really desires, and that is to obtain
influence, both with Austria Hungary and
Germany, sufficient to remodel the map OF
Europe so that the Catholic and Protestant
nations combined can present barrier
over which the schismatic Tartar canuot
pass.
1t is probable, and, In fact, almost certain,
that Bismarck once had the idea of com
bining, through blood and iron, the entire
German natlonallties OF Europe in one grand
empire.
He only partially succeeded, and the
htavy hand of disease and death Is laid upol
him and his imperial master, SO thai nc
more can be expected from their policy;
but 1t may be that Leo, casting aside tue
rude weapons which they used, will succeed
through the mastery Of mind rather than
that Of might in doing within few years
what blood and iron failed to accomplish.
1t cannot be long before the Emperor
William and his great prime minister pass
away.
The crown prince, the successor to the
throne Of Germany, is an invalid, who will
probably die as soon, II not sooner, than hIa
father. That leaves as successor TO the
German empire young, brilliant, energetic
sovereign only 80 years old.
AS constituted to-day the population of
Germany is almost evenly divided between
Protestants and Catholics, the former hay
ing the majority; but there are ten million
German Catholics who inhabit the countries
called Bohemia, silesia, Morayia, Upper